Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Carragher: Don't Blame New Signings

Liverpool centre-back Jamie Carragher insists the club's new signings should not take the blame for the Anfield side's poor performances this season.

Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson have all borne the brunt of heavy criticism after moving to Merseyside with expensive price tags and struggling to find their feet.

Poor league performances - which saw the club finish eighth - have largely been blamed on Liverpool's new signings, but Carragher believes the club's senior players should step up and accept responsibility.

Speaking to The Mirror, Carragher said: "I think they have had a lot of unfair criticism. Henderson, Downing, [Charlie] Adam, Carroll - whoever it may be, it's always been a new signing. Have they been scapegoats? Yes. But I think its players like myself, players who've been here a long time who deserve more criticism than the new players."

All three new signings, Carroll, Downing and Henderson, made Roy Hodgson's Euro 2012 England preliminary squad, with Henderson on the standby list, and Carragher believes the Anfield new boys need time to settle after their big money moves.

"They've just been finding their feet, learning what Liverpool is all about. The manager brought Stewart and Andy in. Hopefully there's time for them to develop a good rapport."

Fenway Sports Group - Liverpool's American owners - are continuing their search for a new manager following the departure of Kenny Dalglish, and Carragher pledged his support for whoever takes up the Anfield hotseat.

"At Liverpool, we would all like to know who our manager is," said Carragher. "Whoever it is, you give 100% at the start of the season."